Arsenal injury news: Francis Coquelin could be fit to face Tottenham in League Cup clash

Francis Coquelin could be back for Arsenal against TottenhamGetty Images

Arsenal have received a massive injury boost in the form of Francis Coquelin, who is expected to be fit for their game against Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup on Wednesday 23 September. The midfielder was taken off at half-time after the Gunners went down to 10 men following Gabriel's sending off in the first half.

The Frenchman had jarred his knee in a tackle before the half-time break and it was believed that the player will be unavailable for an extended period. However, the Mirror reports that Coquelin does not have any ligament damage and that his substitution was more tactical than enforced, which should come as a major boost for Arsenal fans, who have seen their side lose two games on the bounce in all competitions.

Coquelin has been in brilliant form this season and has always been the first name on the Arsenal team sheet alongside Santi Cazorla's. Mikel Arteta's performance against Dinamo Zagreb in midweek did not help the Arsenal faithful feel confident about his ability to play an effective role against Tottenham, Leicester City, Olympiacos and Manchester United whom they face in their next four games placed over two weeks.

The Gunners will also be without Cazorla against Tottenham after the midfielder picked up a double yellow against Chelsea and will be suspended for the fixture alongside Gabriel who has a three-game ban. Meanwhile, Jack Wilshere, Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky also remain sidelined owing to long-term injuries.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger also lashed out at Mike Dean's decision to not send off Diego Costa despite showing a straight red to Gabriel for a sly kick on the striker. Costa will learn whether he will face retrospective action for his antics on the pitch should Mike Dean's report claim that he had overlooked Costa's transgressions on the pitch.

"He hits him twice in the face, gets away with it because of the naivety of the referee. It's unacceptable," Wenger said. "You have a fourth official, you have a linesman, [and] the referee and they talk all the game. They can tell him and they know Diego Costa. "He [Costa] is not a newcomer. He was here for a year now.

"It is surprising. I tell you something, if I am a referee and I referee Diego Costa, I do not send somebody off quickly if he responds, because you know he has been well provoked," he added.